Sunday Scribble – “Asymmetrical”

12Mar

Asymmetrical

Elle’s mark was not a typical shape. It did not resemble half a heart or a star or even a simple circle. Instead, it had the base of a small square with a tab sticking out of the bottom like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Her soul mate’s mark would have to have a tab pointing up from a square in order to be symmetrical with her own, and she honestly wasn’t looking forward to meeting him. Their marks together would look ridiculous.

Elle watched from the restaurant’s counter as her friend Hannah struck up a conversation with a certain gentleman in the corner. Both appeared to be hitting it off well, with bright smiles and light touches on each other’s arms and legs.

“Elle!” After a few moments, Hannah appeared by Elle’s side at the counter. Hannah’s face looked ready to split with the grin she was wearing. “My goodness, this is going so well!”

“I’m glad.” Elle smiled. She was happy for her friend, honestly, but it was not much fun being the third wheel. “Where’d he go?”

“Neven just went to the restroom,” Hannah said, and she stretched her neck out to look around a few other counter patrons as if to double-check that there was no way for Neven to escape. “Elle, he was describing his mark to me. It sounds like the mirror image of mine!”

“I know!” Hannah’s grin softened and her cheeks glowed. “What about you? You were sitting with us then moved over here by yourself. I thought someone had caught your eye.”

“Well, no,” Elle admitted. “You two looked as if you were doing well on your own. I didn’t want to interfere.”

“Oh, Elle, you would never be in the way,” Hannah said. Before Elle could respond, Hannah’s gaze looked beyond Elle, and Hannah jumped up to greet a returning Neven. Elle shook her head to herself and finished her drink as Hannah and Neven resumed their seats in the corner booth.

Elle watched the pair for a few moments before deciding that there was no reason for her to remain in the restaurant any longer. She paid for her drink and gave Hannah a subtle wave and encouraging smile as she left.

As she walked along the sidewalk, Elle glanced at her puzzle piece of a soulmark on the underside of her wrist. With a sigh, she pushed the thought out of her mind and retreated to the local bookstore, her favorite haunt.